New program loans folding bikes to Woodlanders

The Woodland Bike Campaign and researchers at the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies assembled 20 new urban commuting bikes Wednesday as part of a pilot project on the benefits of folding bikes for working families.

The bikes will in turn be loaned to local residents for 90 days. The program is expected to save the average participant at least $50 to $200 a month on gas and help them burn more than 2,500 additional calories a week, said Matt Palm, the doctoral student leading UC Davis' involvement.

The bikes are provided by Tern, a folding bike manufacturer based in Southern California. They weigh 27 pounds, and can literally be folded in half, providing easy access to take them just about anywhere. They retail between $500 and $700 each.

"We humbly believe that the bicycle is the answer to all the world's problems -- obesity, congestion, pollution, dependence on fossil fuels -- and it's affordable," said Tern President Steve Boyd.

The Bike Campaign is working with different local agencies with case workers for possible bike loan participants, said Contreras-Tebbutt. So far only five of the 20 bikes have been matched to project applicants, and local residents are encouraged to apply.

"We want people who are trying to find their place in this world to have reliable transportation -- and that doesn't mean a car," Contreras-Tebbutt said. "If you're making minimum wage, there is no way you can afford to drive to work everyday."

AAA reported that it costs motorists more than 50 cents per mile to drive a car.

"If you're tired of seeing that paycheck burn up at the pump, this project is an opportunity to save cash and try something new," said Palm. "We encourage anyone of modest means who is concerned about their physical or financial health to apply."

Woodland's flat terrain and small size make it an easy place to convert from driving to bike riding, Contreras-Tebbutt added. It doesn't make sense to drive 3,000 pounds of metal to buy a half gallon of milk, she said.

"We can totally change this community and we don't have to wait for infrastructure to do it. That's expensive and it takes a long time," she said.

The Woodland Bike Campaign shop is located at the Woodland Adult Education Center at 575 Hays St. It's open from 1 to 4 p.m., Wednesdays, during the school year and 9 a.m. to noon during the summer on the same day. It's also now open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.

Those interested in the folding bike loan project can contact Contreras-Tebbutt by calling 753-1125 or emailing funmaria@sbcglobal.net.